In a blunt critique of Indian batting star Virat Kohli, English pace legend James Anderson accused Kohli of thriving primarily on home pitches that mask his technical flaws, attributing his success to favourable conditions rather than skill.
The cricketing world has seen many rivalries, but few are as captivating as the ongoing battle between England’s seasoned fast bowler, James Anderson, and India’s batting maestro, Virat Kohli.
Their rivalry began in 2014 when Anderson dismissed Kohli four times during India’s tour of England, a series that marked one of Kohli’s career lows with just 134 runs in 10 innings.
However, the narrative changed in 2016, a year that saw Kohli dominate, scoring over 600 runs and three double centuries in the home Test series against England. Despite this turnaround, Anderson downplayed Kohli’s resurgence, labeling him a ‘home bully.’ He argued that Indian pitches, which lack pace and movement, conceal Kohli’s technical weaknesses.
I’m not sure if Virat Kohli has changed. I just think any technical deficiencies he has are not exposed here. The wickets take that out of the equation. There’s not enough pace in the wicket to get the nicks, like we did against him in England, with a bit more movement,
Anderson commented.
Anderson further explained that Indian pitches lack seam movement, reducing the chances of edging the ball. He acknowledged Kohli’s prowess against spin, noting that in conditions suited to his strengths, Kohli is exceptionally difficult to dismiss.
When that pace and movement aren’t there, Kohli is very much suited to playing in these conditions. He is an excellent player of spin, and if you’re not precise and don’t capitalize on chances, he will punish you,
Anderson added.
James Anderson conceded that dismissing Virat Kohli early on Indian pitches is crucial, as failing to do so often results in severe punishment from the Indian captain.